The present invention relates to a computer application that operates to detect and report airborne particle and microorganism collection performed by a portable airborne particle system.
Conventional airborne particle collection, sampling, and screening kits, devices, and systems have been used for a variety of testing purposes. However, most systems are not highly portable and are not necessarily optimal for collecting airborne particles and microorganisms, and which utilizes an adapter configured for use with a commercially-available vacuum source. An adapter that is used to generate a constant air flow pull volume rate of a selectively desired number of liters per minute, irrespective of selected vacuum source, in a manner which is quick, easy, and efficient is desired.
Also, a computer-based application that receives the sensor data, the measured particles and other data and which generates a result that may be transmitted to a user on-the-fly is also desired. The application may provide users accurate information and warnings regarding the density or existence of certain molds (moulds), microorganisms and particles identified during a screening phase.
Example embodiments of the present application disclose hardware, software and/or operations and procedures configured to analyse air quality inside a motor vehicle, identify the existence of one or more substances, such as molds (moulds), microorganisms, and particles, calculate densities of the identified substances, compare the densities to threshold density values and generate an electronic report identifying the findings of the calculations and notify the user via a warning message if any indicators have exceeded the threshold density values.
It will be readily understood that the components of the present application, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of a method, apparatus, computer application and system, as represented in the attached figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the application as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the application.
The features, structures, or characteristics of the application described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, the usage of the phrases “example embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Thus, appearances of the phrases “example embodiments”, “in some embodiments”, “in other embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same group of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Additionally, any references to a computer or electronics device may be directed to a computer, laptop, mobile, wireless or cellular phone, a PDA, a tablet, a client a server or any device that contains a processor and/or memory, whether that processor or memory performs a function related to an embodiment of the invention.
According to example embodiments, an air flow control mechanism is adapted to control the air flow volume as air is pulled through an air flow control and measurement system via a vacuum source. The air flow control mechanism is adapted to maintain a constant air flow pull volume rate of a selectively desired number of liters, i.e., 5 liters, 10 liters, 15 liters, or 20 liters per minute. The air flow control mechanism may be mounted to a vacuum nozzle adapter or may be included as an integral component of a vacuum source.
In accordance with yet another embodiment, the system of the present application may include sensors which communicate with a control unit or control processor (i.e., computer) to cause a sample to be collected in response to an event that is detected by the sensors. Such a system might be equipped with a mold (mould) spore monitor, and when levels of mold (mould) spores achieve a predetermined level, a controller can be programmed via the computer to initiate a sampling event, such as, to actuate a vacuum source to collect samples on the collection surface of a sample cassette for later analysis in response to the sensor readings. Such sensors can be used to measure relevant environmental factors. Based on the detection of a specific environmental factor by such a sensor, or in accordance with a sampling protocol programmed into the control, various functions may be executed by the control. Such functions may include but are not limited to a recording of generation of the environmental conditions at the time of detection, operation control of any system components whose performance depends on measured environmental parameters, manipulation of a programmed sampling protocol based on measured environmental factors, and production of an alert signal to notify an operator or user of an important change in the environmental conditions as determined by programmed control parameters. Also, a timer may be included to provide a timing signal to the control. The system of the present application is envisioned to be made commercially available as a kit, wherein the kit comprises a package for housing a number of sample cassettes, a first length of flexible tubing, an adapter, a second length of flexible tubing, a fitting, a vacuum nozzle adapter, a computer accessible interface and/or a mobile station or computing device interface for easy adaptation to a computer processing device, and an instruction leaflet.
In accordance to yet another embodiment, the system of the present application may include an electronic microscope which communicates with a control unit or control processor. The electronic microscope comprises an image collection means for obtaining images of collected and/or screened samples. The obtained images may be remotely transmitted wirelessly in real time to a network, such as a network of a laboratory sample testing facility. Thus, the instant embodiment allows for a field technician to immediately transmit images of collected and/or screened samples to the designated laboratory.
In accordance to still another embodiment, the system of the present invention comprises means for performing polymerase chain reaction deoxyribonucleic Acid (PCR DNA) analysis and/or testing. PCR DNA analysis and/or testing is characterized as a specialty test procedure and performed only upon specific request, and when so requested, is further identified and logged into the system platform of the present invention.
In accordance to still another embodiment, the system of the present invention comprises means for performing Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) testing services. The ERMI testing is conducted by analyzing at least one sample of dust from a residential or commercial dwelling, or other interior or enclosure. The sample is analyzed using mold-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (MSQPCR), wherein MSQPCR is a highly specific DNA-based method for quantifying mold species. A ratio development algorithm is provided to calculate a ratio of water damage-related species to common indoor molds. A resulting ratio or score may be referred to as the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index or ERMI.
According to example embodiments, an airborne particle and microorganism collection system, “system”, may include an air particle and microorganism sample cassette for collecting airborne particles and microorganisms, the sample cassette may have an air intake and a media defining a collection surface to which air particles and microorganisms are collected. The system is designed and configured for the collection of air particle and microorganism samples, some of the air particles and microorganisms may be allergenic, pathogenic, and/or toxigenic and include bacteria, viruses, bacterial spores, mold (mould) spores, fungi, cellulose fibers, fiberglass particulates, insect fragments, and pollen. A detailed example of the system is included in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/077,243, entitled “Airborne particle and microorganism collection system” filed on Mar. 31, 2011, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
In operation, the air flow control mechanism of the adapter provides unanticipated and nonobvious functional features and advantages. The air flow control mechanism is adapted to control the air flow volume as air is pulled through the system via the vacuum source, the air flow control mechanism is adapted and configured to maintain a constant air flow pull volume rate of 5 liters per minute when interconnected with remaining elements comprising the system of the present application and when using any commercially-available vacuum source. It is envisioned the air flow control mechanism may be designed, configured, and manufactured in a number of models so as to provide a constant air flow pull volume rate according to consumer need and preference. Also, the computing device may be configured to automatically change the flow pull volume rate or other control functions via a user interface or via an automatic sensor or detection mechanism.
A computer (not shown) may be coupled to the transceiver 202, the indicator drive 206 and/or the display panel 208 to receive and generate organism/mold (mould) concentration results based on the sensor readings received. The computer may be operated by a test application the receives the test results, aggregates the data, determines whether any thresholds have been met and/or exceeded and provides a summary of all mold (mould)/organism concentrations included in the air tests performed on the car. Any alerts necessary for the safety of the driver of the vehicle may be displayed in a green, yellow, red format so the user can observe the risks of being in the vehicle. If a particular mold (mould) or organism is found to be too high a concentration based on predefined levels of air concentration, then the application may provide a safety indicator alerting the user if necessary in the report. To the contrary, if all levels are optimal, then a report may be generated as having no alerting colors or indications so the user may not be alarmed about the present air quality inside their vehicle.
Referring now to
More specifically, voltage applied from power supply 620 activates closure of the NO contact 607 (“flexed” position) and opening of the NC contact 608 (“flexed” position). Closure of NO contact 607 allows current to pass from power supply 620 and through NO contact 607 to energize the timer 625 which activates the predetermined first interval. While the NC contact 608 is in an open position, the passage of current to the vacuum source 40 is prevented, thereby temporarily maintaining vacuum source 40 in a de-energized or deactivated mode. After the first interval expires or has been exceeded, time delay relay 615 trips automatically sending an appropriate signal as input to the vacuum source 40 to cause activation thereof, and NO contact 607 opens (“resting” position), and NC contact 608 closes (“resting” position). While the NC contact 608 is in a closed position, current passes through the relay circuit 615 and to the vacuum source 40, thus activating or energizing vacuum source 40. While the NO contact 607 is in an open position, the passage of current to programmable timer 625 is prevented, thereby placing programmable timer 625 in a de-energized mode. After the second interval expires or has been exceeded, the NC contact 608 automatically opens, thus placing vacuum source 40 in a deactivated mode.
The operations of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a computer program executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A computer program may be embodied on a computer readable medium, such as a storage medium. For example, a computer program may reside in random access memory (“RAM”), flash memory, read-only memory (“ROM”), erasable programmable read-only memory (“EPROM”), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (“EEPROM”), registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a compact disk read-only memory (“CD-ROM”), or any other form of storage medium known in the art.
An exemplary storage medium may be coupled to the processor such that the processor may read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”). In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components. For example
As illustrated in
Although an exemplary embodiment of the system, method, and computer readable medium of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanied drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims. For example, the capabilities of the system can be performed by one or more of the modules or components described herein or in a distributed architecture and may include a transmitter, receiver or pair of both. For example, all or part of the functionality performed by the individual modules, may be performed by one or more of these modules. Further, the functionality described herein may be performed at various times and in relation to various events, internal or external to the modules or components. Also, the information sent between various modules can be sent between the modules via at least one of: a data network, the Internet, a voice network, an Internet Protocol network, a wireless device, a wired device and/or via plurality of protocols. Also, the messages sent or received by any of the modules may be sent or received directly and/or via one or more of the other modules.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that a “system” could be embodied as a personal computer, a server, a console, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cell phone, a tablet computing device, a smartphone or any other suitable computing device, or combination of devices. Presenting the above-described functions as being performed by a “system” is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way, but is intended to provide one example of many embodiments of the present invention. Indeed, methods, systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be implemented in localized and distributed forms consistent with computing technology.
It should be noted that some of the system features described in this specification have been presented as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom very large scale integration (VLSI) circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, graphics processing units, or the like.
A module may also be at least partially implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified unit of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions that may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module. Further, modules may be stored on a computer-readable medium, which may be, for instance, a hard disk drive, flash device, random access memory (RAM), tape, or any other such medium used to store data.
Indeed, a module of executable code could be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.
It will be readily understood that the components of the invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the detailed description of the embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention.
One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the invention as discussed above may be practiced with steps in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations that are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. In order to determine the metes and bounds of the invention, therefore, reference should be made to the appended claims.
While preferred embodiments of the present application have been described, it is to be understood that the embodiments described are illustrative only and the scope of the application is to be defined solely by the appended claims when considered with a full range of equivalents and modifications (e.g., protocols, hardware devices, software platforms etc.) thereto.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/760,220, filed on Feb. 4, 2013 and entitled, “Airborne Particle Collection Device Application”. The entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61760220 | Feb 2013 | US |